Veterans Benefits Administration, Veteran Readiness and Employment - - PDF document

Veterans Benefits Administration, Veteran Readiness and Employment Service A Briefing for the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development and Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs

Briefing by William Streitberger, VR&E Executive Director September 2 and 3, 2020

This is a text-only version of a presentation delivered during the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development and Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs quarterly meetings. Slides marked with an asterisk indicate that there are accompanying graphs

• available. Please reach out to veteransbusiness@sba.gov for a copy of the original presentation

and to view the graphs.

SLIDE 1 – TITLE SLIDE SLIDE 2 – VR&E EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• Mr. William Streitberger
• United States Navy Veteran
• Chapter 31 VR&E Participant
• VA Career History
• 2018 – Present Director, VR&E Service
• 2016 – 2018 Director, Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices
• 2013 – 2016 Director, Hartford Regional Office
• 2011 – 2013 Deputy Director, Office of Field Operations, Operations Center,

VACO

• 2010 – 2011 Assistant Director, Oakland Regional Office
• 2008 – 2010 Management Analyst, VBA Nashville, Southern Area Office
• 2004 – 2008 MA/Executive Staff Assistant, VR&E Service, VACO
• 2002 – 2004 Employment Coordinator, Chicago Regional Office

SLIDE 3 – MISSION/VISION Mission:

• Assist Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap

prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers, or maintain a life of independence Vision:

• Focus on the Field
• Customer Centric Service Delivery
• Highest standard of service
• Best in class program outcomes

SLIDE 4 – WHY WE SERVE – GUIDING PRINCIPLES In everything we do we challenge the status quo, we think differently to provide Veterans with the benefits they have earned in a manner that honors their service, in the way they want to be served. SLIDE 5 – VETERAN READINESS & EMPLOYMENT Veteran Readiness and Employment is a modern 21st Century facilitator of economic

• pportunity for Service members, Veterans, and their Families – The Crown Jewel in the

Veterans Benefits Administration portfolio. SLIDE 6 – KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

• VR&E employs nearly 1,000 professional vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRC)

and delivers services through a network of nearly 350 office locations

• Our service delivery model works to support Veterans where they are located, and

includes operations at 56 regional offices, the National Capital Region Benefits Office, approximately 142 out-based offices, 71 Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) installations, and 104 VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) schools/sites

• VSOC
• We currently collaborate with 104 schools across the country to provide

educational and vocational counseling and other on-site services to an available population of nearly 86,000 student Veterans on campus

• IDES
• We have expanded early intervention counseling and other available services

for wounded, ill, injured and other transitioning Servicemembers at 71 military installations SLIDE 7 – KEY SERVICES PROVIDED (CON’T)

• Help Veterans with service-related disabilities:
• Achieve and maintain suitable employment
• Gain independence in daily living
• Vocational counseling and planning
• Education or vocational training
• Monthly living allowance in addition to disability compensation
• Tools to accommodate program (e.g. auto mechanic tools, computers for

technology/professional fields)

• Job-seeking skills and assistance in finding employment
• Independent living:
• Training in activities of daily living
• Personal adjustment counseling and support services

SLIDE 8 – VR&E TRACKS

• If entitled to VR&E benefits and services, the Veteran/Servicemember will work with a

VRC to develop a personalized rehabilitation plan following one of five tracks:

• Re-employment
• Rapid Access to Employment
• Self-Employment
• Employment Through Long-Term Services
• Independent Living

SLIDE 9 – ON-CAMPUS ASSISTANCE THROUGH VSOC

• VSOC Counselors provide:
• Adjustment counseling to resolve problems interfering with completion of

education programs and entrance into employment

• Vocational testing
• Educational and career counseling (Chapter 36)
• Expedited VR&E services
• Support and assistance to all Veterans with VA benefits regardless of

entitlement, benefit usage, or enrollment status

• University of Alaska at Anchorage has a VSOC Counselor

SLIDE 10 – EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM (CHAPTER 36)

• The VSOC program operates under the VA’s education and career counseling program,
• r Chapter 36, authority
• Chapter 36 benefits offer a wide range of educational and vocational counseling

services to Servicemembers, Veterans, and dependents who are eligible for one of the VA’s educational benefit programs

• These services are designed to provide Servicemembers and Veterans with

personalized counseling and support to help guide career paths, ensure the most effective use of VA benefits, and achieve educational and career goals

• Eligibility:
• Transitioning Servicemembers within 6 months prior to discharge
• Veterans within one year following discharge from active duty
• Any Servicemember/Veteran currently eligible for a VA education benefit
• All current VA education beneficiaries

SLIDE 11 – INTEGRATED DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (IDES)

• IDES Counselors provide:
• Assessment, evaluation, and outreach services to transitioning wounded, ill,

and injured Servicemembers referred to the Physical Evaluation Board

• Sec. 1631(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (PL 110-181) established

VR&E eligibility and automatic entitlement for severely injured active duty individuals before a VA rating is issued. This became a permanent law on September 30, 2018 SLIDE 12 – VR&E SERVICE MODERNIZATION ROADMAP* SLIDE 13 – VR&E MODERNIZATION

• People:
• 1:125 VRC to Veteran Ratio – PL 114-223, Section 254
• VRC Time Study
• Industry Standard Staffing Model Study
• Competency-Based Training System (CBTS)
• Strategic Communication Strategy
• Performance Measures
• Performance Standards (VSOC/IDES)
• Employment Services Modernization

SLIDE 14 – VR&E MODERNIZATION

• Process:
• Enhanced use of VR&E National Service Contracts
• VR&E Quality Assurance Modernization
• Transfer of VR&E Home Adaptation Activities to SAH in Loan Guaranty Service

(Independent Living)

• Appeals Modernization
• Lean Internal VR&E Service Operations
• M-28R Live Manual Modernization
• Purchase Card Processing Automation/Centralization

SLIDE 15 – VR&E MODERNIZATION

• Technology:
• New Case Management Solution Service (CMSS)
• Virtual Assistant - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools (Automates Case

Management Communications)

• Invoice Payment Processing System (IPPS)
• 100% Next generation VA Video Connect (Pexip) Tele-counseling Capability
• 100% Dragon Naturally Speaking Capability
• Centralized Mail/Printing
• Document Level Active Scanning of CERs into VBMS eFolder

SLIDE 16 – QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION – THANK YOU!